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' (No Model.)

- 'I'. S. GILBERT.

CORSET.

N o. 531,1.'79. Patented Deo. ,18, 18'9'4.

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UNITED A*STAfiAEs THOMAS s. GILBERT, OE SPRINGFIELD,MASSACHUSETTS, AssIGNOR To .THE

PATENT FFIc-E,

GILBERT CORSET COMPANY, O E sA'ME PLACE.

CORSET."

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent N0. 531,179, dated December y18, 1894. Application filed August 24, 1894. Serial No. 521,210. (No model.)

.To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS S. GILBERT, of Springfield, in the countyof Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new Improvement in Nursing-Corsets; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specicatiomand represent, in- 4 Figure l, a View in front elevation of one form which a corset constructed in accordance with my invention may assume, one of the flaps being open and the/other closed; Fig. 2, a View in horizontal section, on the line a-b of Fig. 1, through one of the flaps and shields; Fig. 3, a detached view of one of the shields, as it would appear if spread out flat. My invention relates to animprovement in nursing corsets, the object being to produce a simple, convenient, shapely, cleanly and comfortable corset, constructed with particular reference to concealing the breastwvhen the nursing feature of the corset is in use, and to protecting the breast at' other times.

With these ends in view, myinvention consists in a nursing corset having certain details of construction as will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claim.

In carrying out my invention, I locate shields or covers A A made of some ne softV fabric, as muslin or lawn, in openings B B formedin the upper ends of the front sections C C of the corset, the said shields being made full enough to receive the breasts, which they normally entirely cover and protect, but adapted to be parted enough for the requirements of nursing, when, however, there need be no more exposure than of the shields to view. Normally the`shields and the openings which they occupy arecovered by flaps D D, secured by their outer edges to the corset at points near the rear edges of the said openings. As herein shown, each shield is composed of two strips or pieces corresponding to each other in shape, Wider at their upper than at theirlower ends and havingtheirinner corners overlapped. The upper ends of both pieces are bound and secured together by a tape A', while their lower ends are bound and secured together by a tape C', the said tapes finishing and reinforcing the upper and lower ends of the shield, which are not attached to the corset but left free. Preferably I shall apply the shields in such manner that, when soiled, they may be readily removed, Washed and replaced. I do not, however, limit myself to so applying them. One way of removably applying the shields is by tacking the outer edges of their strips to the back of thel corset by coarse stitches a, seen to the left in Fig. 1. By the term tacking, I Wish to be understood as referring to stitchingof a temporary character. When tackedA on to the corset the tapes prevent the ends of the shield from being unduly strained and from getting out of place.

It is designed that the shields shall be fulled, so to speak, in the openings B B, and afford ample room for the breasts, which they entirely coverand protect from the corset proper, and which, when the flaps are open, they conceal, the separation of the inner edges of the strips for nursing being effected without any exposure of the person.

The V4flaps D D are triangular in form, as shown, and fastened by spring studs D and collets D2, familiar to all on account of their extended use as fast-enings for gloves; but the ila-ps may be fastened in any other Way found convenient and effective. y

I do not limit myself to making or applying the shields in the exact manner shown and described, nor to making the openings in the corset sections and the flaps as represented. I would therefore have it understood that I donot limit myself to the exact construction set forth, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes as fairly fall within lthe spirit and scope of my invention.

I am aware that a corset having its front sections cutaway to form openings in their upper edges, and provided with loose shields of knitted material located in the said openings,and with covers attached to it and adapt- 'ed to cover the said openings andshields, is,

broadly speaking, old. I am also aware that a corset having the upper edges of its front sections cut away to form openings and provided with flaps secured near the rear edges of the said Openings is old, and I do not claim that construction broadly.

IOO

required for nursing, and a Iiap secured to the outer face of the said section and adapted, when closed, to cover the said opening and 15 shield, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS S. GILBERT.

Witnesses:

FRANK II. BOWEN, EDWARD N. BOWEN. 

